The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the Ernakulm District Collector and the Kollam Crime Branch SP to find a proper place outside the district to safely accommodate a victim of sexual abuse, who went missing from a school hostel in the city earlier and was tracked down by the police.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Pius C Kuriakose and Justice Babu Mathew P Joseph issued the order when the girl was produced before the court. The court had earlier directed the city police to track down the missing minor at the earliest.
The special investigation team headed by Assistant Commissioner Sunil Jacob took custody of the girl from Aluva Railway station on November 28. The court had earlier appointed the Ernakulam District Collector as the victim’s guardian.
The collector had also made arrangements for the victim to pursue her plus-two course. However, she went missing from the hostel on November 21.
The victim had been accommodated at the Mahila Mandiram, Chambakkara, which she found uncomfortable to stay in.
The court asked the Crime Branch CID, who was in charge of case, to implead himself in the case to rehabilitate the girl. It has been found that one Noushad, who had feigned love with the victim, had molested her in the company of others.
The District Collector submitted that it is not safe for the victim to continue her studies at the present school without police protection. The school management was also unwilling to take her back.
“To protect the girl until the completion of the investigation of the case, she should be either sent to her relatives or must be accommodated in a safe place,” the collector said.